Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hurrah for Huechera and the Other Fella'

Huechera
The genus Heuchera includes at least 50 species of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Saxofragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. There are many, many varieties that vary in leaf shape, color, and blossom. You should look them up. I don't have many varieties... but I'm always on the "lookout!" ;-)

(I have ordered two Heuchera plants for Spring 2009. 'Sashay' and 'Purple Petticoats.' Hope they do well!)

'Lime Rickey'
- deceased.
This may not return, as
I may have given it too much attention last year!
If it truly has expired, I may look for another... just because.

'Amber Waves' looked great early last Spring,
but I'm not sure it liked its location...
if it survives the Winter, I will probably move it.
This 'Amber Waves' is in a backyard location.
Obviously this was taken very early last Spring (note the Spring Beauties).
'Green Spice' in April
'Green Spice' in May

'Palace Purple'
(I have planted several of these)

And the Other Fine Fella'
Heucherella!
(This is a cross between Heuchera and Tiarella - the foamy bells.)

This is 'Quicksilver'
This is 'Strike it Rich, Gold'
It resides in the SE woodland walk...
and it really likes it there.
:-)
There are a couple of people "out there," that seem to enjoy seeing what I've planted in my shady backyard. In that I've gleaned inspiration from so many sources (many of whom are garden bloggers!), I'm happy to tell you that these are pretty easy to grow. Most of the, though, don't care for a day of direct sunlight!

Happy list-making! :-)




30 comments:

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

Green spice! That's one I have and had forgotten it's name until you mentioned it.
I love Lime Rickey, I've been looking for a place for one.
I like your little bird bath area.

Gail said...

Me! I love what you plant in your shady garden...I love these plants. They are obviously happy in your garden! Here in the south we have better luck with any heuchera with villosa in their parentage. It can take our heat and humidity better. I can't wait to show you my spring beauties....I'm just that excited about wildflowers. gail

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Ihave had awful luck with Lime Rickey too. I have one that is barely hanging on.

Iowa Victory Gardener said...

Hi Shady (IVG here),
We only have 2 Palace Purple Heucheras, that we planted more for the foliage than the blooms (ho-hum), though the last couple of years they seem to have gotten swallowed up by their neighbors the hollies. Still, they are quite attractive peeking out from under their shade and seem to be doing quite well nonetheless.

You show a lot of attractive varieties here, but if I had my druthers for more woodland treats (we're fast running out of space, as you know!), my money's still on Ligularia dentata Desdemona ... we just can't get enough of that plant!

F Cameron said...

You've got a great heuchera collection going. I had at least 7 lime, but the area wasn't quite shady enough and I started getting leaf scorch -- then the rabbits (I think it was them, not deer) ate them to the ground. I've saved one (I think) and will see if the eaten ones come back.

Cameron

Rosemary said...

Hi Shady
Your photos of the heuchera,tiarella and what plants you had to have on
a deserted island, certainly brightened my day. Great posts.

Shady Gardener said...

Catherine, Thanks for visiting. I hope you have better luck with Lime Rickey than I did!!

Hi Gail, You are in the midst of gardening, aren't you? I've been looking at all the photos I took last Spring - and boy, am I getting "Spring-itis!" ;-) I'll look forward to your photos!

Thank you, Lisa. It must be true that misery loves company, because if you're having troubles, too... it makes me feel better. (sorry)

IVG, Hi there! Well, I didn't happen to see Desdemona last Fall... but I did see "Britt Marie Crawford" and brought her home! ;-)
Hope she likes it here!

Hi Cameron, a grouping of Lime R. must have been beautiful! I hope they return for you!! I know about leaf scorch, which is why I will be moving the one Amber Waves.

Rosemary, Thank you for your compliments! Glad you stopped by! :-)

Anonymous said...

Me too! I love seeing what you've got going on in your shady garden! :-)
I can see why you'd replace 'Lime Rickey' ~ he's beautiful. I have two Heucheras ~ a purple and one called 'Carolina Bronze' that I bought last year. I had it in a container then transplanted it to a bed last fall (when everything else got frosted). I hope it comes up this spring. You have some lovely varieties. They are great little plants aren't they?

Shady Gardener said...

Kathleen, "Lime Rickey" was stunning! I had such fun admiring him... but I tried to move him just a smidgeon and I believe that's what did him in. Sometimes, however, I think heuchera can be a little finicky.

I agree that hey are great little plants! :-)

IBOY said...

I'll be interested to see if Amber Waves makes it for you. Mine croaked (as it did for about a million other gardeners!
don

Anonymous said...

shady,

Thanks for putting up the banner and helping promote the event.

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I do love heuchera and am, frankly, missing mine under two feet of snow. I did finally update my blog, with something else I'd been meaning to write about for yonks. the garden inspiration is next!

Shady Gardener said...

Iowaboy, Amber waves has not been a thriving plant in the back, but it returns year-after-year and has been "respectable." We'll see how if the other, in the front bed, does.

MBTh, Happy to promote the event! I hope I can make it!! :-)

Monica, Well... mine are under the snow, as well. However, I'm reviewing last Summer's photographs and sorting them a bit. :-)

Gail said...

Dear Shady,

We had a warm day and I was able to plant a few plants but it's winter again. Very wet, very cold and there is no gardening happening...but we have nothing to really complain about..even tho we do...complain, I mean. Take care dear and be warm and safe.

Gail

Anonymous said...

Nice Heuchera collection you have got going there. I like them a lot - but mine were devastated by vine weevil last year, so fingers crossed they make a recovery this year.
K

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Gail, I'll just let you plant away, down there. It's still early for you, even though, isn't it? Meanwhile, I'll continue to dream and scheme! :-)

Karen, I've never heard of a vine weevil! Hope your plants make a come-back. I do think some heuchera are a little more "touchy" than others.

Gail said...

Just popping by to say hello! Wondering what you are doing up there!

gail

Pat said...

Did I say I love coral bells?
Perfect for your gardens !

I have the same natural mulch !!!
:)

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Gail! I love your newest post... beautiful photos and you're having some Spring weather already! :-)

Patsi, That natural mulch looks best in the woodland shady areas, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

I like all of your Heuchera. I have H.'Mint Frost', which has similar colour patterns to 'Green Spice'. I like the leaf shape, and the way the silvery colours brighten the shady areas. The orange colour change in the fall was attractive too.
I've been looking at the Heucherellas after your last pot.

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Northern! :-) I'll have to look for 'Mint Frost.' Even the name sounds pretty! Heucherellas are nice, but I Really like Tiarellas!

Corner Gardener Sue said...

At the first house we lived in, the previous owners had some great flowers already planted, but I was more into vegetable gardening at the time. I wished later that I'd taken better care of, and taken some with us to our next yard.

I loved the coral bells on the west side of the house, and over the years have had fun discovering different kinds of them. Some do better for me than others. I have a hard time remembering their names, though.

I like yours, too, and some look familiar to me.

Shady Gardener said...

Sue, Over my years of flower gardening, I've found myself wishing I'd kept the plant tags! A condensed version of what could be a long story is that since we've moved here, I've done just that. And I've created metal tags outdoors. Last Summer I made a little garden bed notebook to record everything (due to the fact that sometimes tags disappear). Whew! :-) This Winter's project seems to be getting out-of-hand! (More on that later!) ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oops, I meant to type "your last post on Tiarellas". The 'Heuch' part sneaked in.

Shady Gardener said...

NS, :-) Heuchs have a way of doing that! ha.

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

I have 2 'Lime Ricky's that are growing fine, but last autumn I bought 'Citronelle' because it has more yellow foliage. If your 'Lime Rickey' doesn't revive, give 'Citronelle' a try. It's a villosa hybrid and is therefore more heat tolerant. I've got a bit of a Heuchera/Heucherella collection going too. I have such a hard time not buying these plants. Good thing they like my garden.

Anonymous said...

Truly enjoyable! Ah, to have the space to cultivate such specimens. 'Purple Palace' is my one and only Heuchera. But, I live vicariously through the perennial tables at Corliss. This is my first spring with a camera, so look out!

Shady Gardener said...

MMD, I'd like to try Lime Rickey once more, but Citronelle may be a good substitute from the sounds of it! They are great plants... I can hardly wait to see your garden!!!

Hi Deb, I understand completely. You are SO fortunate to enjoy everything at Corliss! I'll have fun watching your posts. :-)

Sue Catmint said...

I fell in love with heucheras a couple of years ago. But they couldn't cope with my tough love, they were thirsty and dry and became compost. Thank you for your blog and its sharings.

Shady Gardener said...

Catmint, I believe that's what may be one of my problems, too. They really don't like being bone dry! We'll see what happens with one or two of the varieties in question!